Sea Tow Blog

Sea Tow Central Hudson Celebrates 25 Years on the Water

For the past quarter century, boaters from Manhattan to Newburgh have known who to call when they need any sort of help while out on the water. Whether it’s a tow to the marina following a catastrophic breakdown or something as simple as a tip for finding the area’s best fishing spots, Sea Tow Central Hudson is always there to lend a hand.

“With our headquarters just across the Long Island Sound, we see first-hand the impact the Central Hudson franchise has had on the New York boating community over the past 25 years,” said Sea Tow CEO Joseph Frohnhoefer, III. “That sort of track record speaks for itself.”

In addition to the typical jobs – tows, fuel deliveries and battery jumps – Captain Walter Garschagen and his crew of five part-time captains help out in any way they can. They do commercial jobs, dock repair and mooring work and even assist with crew changes on tug boats and barges that make their way down the Hudson.

Captain Garschagen – who has owned the franchise since 2007 – and Sea Tow Central Hudson’s captains are also heavily-involved in local river cleanup days, assisting environmental groups by being good stewards on the river. His two teenage daughters pass on their maritime skills as instructors at Croton Sailing School in nearby Croton-on-Hudson. Captain Garschagen also serves as the treasurer of the Hudson Valley Marine Trades Association.

When it comes down to it, it’s all about giving back to the community that has given them so much over the past 25 years.

“We love just being out there on the water,” Captain Garschagen added. “Whether it’s giving tows or taking TV crews out to get that perfect shot of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, we pride ourselves in always being there to help in any way we can.”

Serving an area stretching across five counties and two states, Sea Tow Central Hudson serves a wide variety of clients throughout the year. Although the area has a bustling recreational boating community, Captain Garschagen and his crew see surges of various types of boaters, depending on the season.

From the fisherman looking for striped bass in the spring, to the Canadian sailors making their fall migration as the weather gets colder, the crew at Sea Tow Central Hudson truly see it all.

“This part of New York is beautiful,” Captain Garschagen said, “so we get a lot of boaters visiting from elsewhere to come see the Hudson Highlands and all the river towns in this area."

“We just want to be there in case they need us,” he added, “no matter what type of boat they have or where their Sea Tow membership originates.”

If you’ve received service from Sea Tow Central Hudson or met their Captains on the water, please share your feedback below in the comments.